Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-09-19

seemed in paradise, holding the perfect
supple form; then he realized the dreadful
truth.
He held his flask, still full of wine, to her
lips to revive her and then dragged her
away.
Remember your reputation" he whis-
pered, trembling with emotion at being so
close to her; return directly and do not be-
tray yourself Trust me always"
"What will my father and-the comte say"
she gasped piteousiy.
He scanned her face anxiously and earn
estly. as if he was trying to read the truth.
"What has the eomte to do with It'll" he
asked
"He asked my hand of my father last
night, and he was accepted, she faltered
The young lieutenant WINGED as he had
never done before, not even lying on the bat
tlefield frightfully wounded He, too,
adored this splendid creature, and she had led
him to suppose she was not Indifferent to
him. But no reproach escaped his lips. He
was young, just IS, had already name in
the army, and was handsome and well born;
but he only looked at her sadly, thinking:
"How could l, poor officer, hope to merit
such perfectionp
"YOu are cross, You will betray me-" she
said, trembling all over; land my letter will
be found"
"Betray you'll Neverl l swear it on my
officers honor" be exclaimed, passionately
"As for the letter, you shall have it, prom
Use you"
Then she fed, and he returned to the man
left on the downs.
He was quite dead
All the young girls in c. and in the de
partment envied Valentine Dubois luck at
the rich marriage she was going TO
make, and it was the news of the day.
The old colonel had wished her to marry an
officer, and had saved up the dot that the gov
ernmert required for an officers wife, hoping
secretly in his heart that it would be for his
favorite Raoul-but who could resist
comtel
The trousseau, engagement ring, daily bou-
quet, offered regularly, were discussed by
every one, when suddenly more startling
news changed the current of gossip.
| NJ Colin, an invalid lodger at the Casino
had been found with his brains blown out
| lying on the downs, and an old fisherman
| passing by had discovered Raoul bent over
| him trying to restore him. The young mans
/ gun was subsequently found close by. 1t was
| well known that the two men were not
friends-Raoul had secretly resented NJ
| Collins assiduities TO Valentine-and, though
| the reason was ignored, they had been heard
| exchanging high words the night before.
| A woman's scream had resounded, a tiny
| perfumed glove found, and female form
had been seen hurrying away; but in the
| gloom the graceful Valentine had not been
recognized.
| The old fisherman explained that Raoul
| had told him TO seek a surgeon Immediately,
and that he seemed in a state of great agita-
| ton, but the pere Benoit gave his evidence
most reluctantly, for the young lieutenant
was greatly esteemed by ALL Many time
when off duty he had sat up with dying men,
while the relative watching them had thus OBJ
tanned rest; and he had one stormy night res
cued little sailor boy from wreck, expos
| ing his own life But all this could not save
him, for how many men renowned for valor-
Gus deeds had wrecked their lives in mo-
ment of psssioni
His own account was most confused, for he
did not know how to tell a lie, and with a
white face and clenched teeth he related all
he could hut how could he clear himself
without eliminating his love? And he was
sent between two gendarmes to the large
assize town of D to await his trial
Advertisements were inserted and de-
tectives employed to find the woman, but,
though the glove was traced to a shop
in one of the adjacent towns, it was
impossible TO obtain any clew The
glover owned that it was an extraordinary
small size, and remembered that the buyer
had been remarkably handsome; but failed to
recognize her in any of the women be was
shown, declaring there was not one half as
lovely.
The old colonel's voice trembled when he
spoke of his favorite's disgrace. Valentine
told herself constantly that it was impossible
al innocent man could be found guilty She
knew one word of hers would release him. but
why disgrace herself when be could not be
punished
A few hours after the prisoners arrest a
sealed packet had been thrust into her hand
asshe returned from salut and she had recog-
nized Raoul's military seryant-a soldier who
would have killed himself to save his master
hurrying away in the dusk Carefully in
closed was the terrible letter, stained with
blood, and few lines in Raouls writing on a
slip of paper: do not fear, trust me l will
never betray your
1t was the en- of the summer, the fisher
men had returned from Iceland, and there
was general jubilee in the adjacent fishing
hamlet of F. The thanksgiving salut was
said in the open air by the little chapel near
the sea, and when the count was seen there by
the side of the "angel in blue" everybody de-
clared be must indeed be enamored for 1t was
well known he was very lax in his religious
| views, and that be neither went to mass on a
Sunday nor confessed even at Easter.
After the ceremony the cOmte returned
with his betrothed, and Mime. Froment, who
was there to chaPeron them and whose pride
| in her sisters splendid prospects was so in
tense that she strutted like peacock, plan
ming III her mind all the glory of the noce,
and Of the triumph of her half dozen chill
4 dren's toilets.
The dressmaker came that evening to try
| on the wedding dress, and when the cornte was
called in to see the enchanting sight-the
lovely girl in the full pride of her beatty and
her II yearS-he uttered an exclamation of
rapture.
beautiful ANGEL" he cried, and would have
taken her in his arms and then, remember
ing etiquette, restrained himself and CON
tented his passion by kissing her hands pas
siOnately
Valentine shuddered It reminded her that
one day she had allowed Raoul to touch her
fingers with his lips, and the cares had
seemed very much sweeter than the comtes,
and she thought of the young lieutenant in
prison-disgraeed, miserable.
"But he must be acquitted" she argued,
"for who could condemn hima He would be
afterward still more esteemed and honored y
1t was the hour for the retraite, and the
soldiers, with their drums and trumpets
passed by to the barracks. The Lighthouse
shone forth with its revolving fire, and the
signal boat on the sea flashed crimson in the
distance
Valentine turned away with a sigh. Her
bridal dress seemed to stifie her, and she was
anxious to take it off till in a few days she
would have to assume it again. The white,
shiny stuff giistened and assumed silvery
look, and the long trained robe seemed tc
surround her like cloud.
| ~ hat a charming comteSse you Will mAReI
whispered her fiance.
| The old colonel looked up from his Figaro
with proud smile at bis darling
"The poor Raoul always said the little one,
if painted by good artist, would create q
furOre in the salon, )" he exclaimed triumph
antly "There is an article about him here
| Poor child poor child"
The words had scarcely left his lips when
| footsteps were heard approachingly rapidly,